Vamana Purana — Jabali Bound by the Monkey, Shloka 15

Jabali Bound by the Monkey: Nandayanti’s Ordeal and the Yamuna–Hiranyavati Sacred Corridor

Devanagari script

तां दृष्ट्वामन्यत श्रीमान् सेयं देववती ध्रुवम् तन्मे वृथा श्रमो जातो जलमज्जनसंभवः

Transliteration

tāṃ dṛṣṭvāmanyata śrīmān seyaṃ devavatī dhruvam tanme vṛthā śramo jāto jalamajjanasaṃbhavaḥ

Translation

Nang makita siya, naisip ng marangal na iyon: “Tunay na ito si Devavatī. Kung gayon, ang aking pagsisikap—na nagmula sa paglublob at pagligo sa tubig—ay nauwi sa wala.”

Speakers

• Internal thought of the monkey (kapi) reported by the narrator.

Key Themes

• Tirtha ritual (snāna/majjana)
• Recognition/mistaken identity
• Efficacy of pilgrimage acts

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Why does the character connect ‘bathing in water’ with ‘effort’ and possible futility?

Purāṇic tīrtha practice treats bathing (snāna/majjana) as a disciplined act—travel, fasting, vows, and immersion. The verse reflects a psychological moment: if the expected outcome (meeting/recognizing Devavatī) is mistaken, the pilgrim’s exertion feels wasted, even though the tradition usually insists tīrtha-merit is not lost.

Who is Devavatī in this context?

Within this episode Devavatī appears as a named figure whose recognition matters to the monkey. The verse suggests either resemblance or confusion between Devavatī and Anjanā, setting up the next action (running toward her) and the ensuing fear-driven flight.

Does the verse imply that tīrtha-bathing can be ‘in vain’?

Doctrinally, Purāṇas typically affirm tīrtha-bathing yields merit when done with faith and proper conduct. Here ‘in vain’ is the character’s immediate, emotional inference—used narratively to motivate urgency—rather than a settled theological conclusion.